This week has been a strange contradiction. On the one hand, people from all over the world have gathered in Paris for the Olympic Games, while on the other hand, riots with divisive and racist undertones have broken out across the UK.
Like most of us, I am appalled by the violence that has taken place in the cities of our country in recent days.
“This is a depressing state of affairs given that the UK health and social care system relies on the support and care of internationally trained professionals who willingly provide them.”
Particularly disturbing was the news that two Filipino nurses were among the targets of right-wing extremist rioters, along with other public sector workers, including police officers and immigration officials.
The two NHS nurses were on their way to work through Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, last Friday – reportedly as emergency cover – when their taxi was pelted with stones.
This incident prompted the new Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, to rightly say that doctors could – and should – turn away abusive patients.
This has also prompted the Royal College of Nursing to update its guidance to members on discontinuing care, something surely no healthcare professional ever wants to do.
Sadly, I last wrote about the need to tackle racist behaviour in June, after a major investigation by Nursing Times found there was a rising number of racist incidents against NHS staff.
Perhaps the results of this study are indicative of the unrest currently raging in local communities and the divisions that seem to be gripping society as a whole.
This is a depressing state of affairs given that the UK health and social care system relies on the support of foreign-trained professionals – like their Windrush forebears – and the care they willingly provide.
According to the NHS Confederation, the cost of immigration to the NHS appears to be low as overseas staff are essential to the NHS, particularly at a time when there are so many vacancies.
Data suggests that of all NHS staff in England, almost 20% are from abroad and around 28% of NHS nurses are from outside the UK.
Today the NHS is more diverse than at any time in its 76-year history, with people from 215 different countries represented among its staff – something to be proud of and to be a part of.
As I said at the beginning, the Paris Olympic Games have become a beacon of diversity and remind us that in sport everyone is fundamentally treated equally, regardless of skin colour or race.
Among the participants in Paris 2024 are several athletes and sportsmen with a background in nursing, as one would expect in such a large and global profession.
Among them is Tiffany Ho, a nurse from Sydney who graduated in 2021. She represents Australia in badminton and says her employer has been very supportive.
Meanwhile, Canadian swimmer Rebecca Smith completed her nursing degree in May of this year and competed in the Olympic Games this month.
And then there is dialysis nurse Joan Poh, who wanted to compete as Singapore’s only rower but unfortunately did not make it through the qualification.
As someone who meets many nurses, I am continually impressed by the diversity of the profession. It is a strength, not a weakness, and something society can learn from. Racism must not be tolerated.
Steve Ford, Editor, Nursing Times
